Method and apparatus for building boats.



'1. o. SCHMITT. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING BOATS.

APPLICATION man FEB. e 1915. v 1,201,358. Patented Oct. 17,1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 gZ nvenfo I! J. 0. SCHMITT.

METHOD AND- APPARATUS FOR BUlLDiNG BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6', 1915.

Patented 0ct.17,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iwerz lo! JOHN O. SCI-IIVIZIT'JI, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILD I liNG BOATS.

Application filed February 6, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. SCHMITT, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahoga and Stat of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods and Apparatus for Building Boats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip-.

tion.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for building boats, such as row boats and power boats and has particular utility to those engaged in building a large number of boats of the same size and shape.

The object of the invention is to render the building of boats less expensive, simpler and easier than heretofore.

More particularly, the invention aims to being equal in number and spacing to the number and spacing of the'ribs which are to be provided on the inner side of the boat. ()n to this form the keel is first'placed and clamped, and then on to the transverse forms or units the ribs are bent and fastened, and then the planking forming the shell is built around the 'form on to the ribs. This form comprises a pair of rollers rotatably supported in such a manner that as the work progresses around the boat the form and the boat under construction can be turned so that what may be termed the working point is always in the most convenient position for the Workman.

My invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts and in certain novel steps of the method which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @013. 17,1916.

Serial No. 6,665.

form with the keel in place, and with sections of the rollers or form supporting wheels removed; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View substantially along the line 33 of Fig, 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of a'portion of the form and keel showing the manner in which the latter is clamped in position; Fig." 5 is a view of the form with the boat nearly completed; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional vlew through the same; and Fig. 7 is a View at the bow portion of the form.

In carryingout my invention, I utilize a form which is composed of a plurality of logitudinally extending base timbers 10, which as shown in Fig. 1, are bowed substantially in conformity with the boat, these timbers preferably converging at the bow end of the form and being slightly spaced apart at the stern end. On these timbers are secured a plurality of transverse form units 11, arranged at regular intervals from oneend of the form to the other, and each corresponding in shape to the transverse shape of the boat at a particular point. The number and spacing of these transverse form units correspond to the number and spacing of the ribs which are intended to be provided on the interior of the boat to be built. Each of these transverse formiunits is provided on its outerface or periphery with'a strip 12 of iron, and at the lower ends of each of these form units are clamps 13, each including an angular piece of metal with an adjustable clamping thumb nut. Each of these transverse form units includes a bowed or bow-shaped part formed of one or more pieces of wood about the edge or periphery of which the strip of iron 12 is permanently secured, and it includes also a base 14 which engages and is secured to the base timbers 10. The form as a whole is rotatably supported on a pair of rollers or wheels 15 which are intended to completely envelop the form and the boat being built thereon. Each of these rollers or wheels is composed ofa lower part 1,5 permanently secured to the form, and an upper form 15 which is removable. The lower portions of the rollers are secured to the form at short distances from the bow and stern ends thereof by means of cross rollers 17 extending transversely of troughlike members 18, one of such members being provided beneath each of the large rollers 15.

In the .use of this apparatus and in carrying out my improved method, the upper sections 15 of the large rollers 15 are removed, and then thekeel which is shown at .20 is fastened in position across the central top part of the .form, as shown in the drawings. Then the keel is clamped in position by suitable clamps 21, each of which includes a hook bolt 22, extending through an opening provided in the keel, and an angle iron 23 provided on one of the transverse form units. The keel when in position is not flush with the surfaces of the transverse form units, but is slightly above the same, the keel resting on the ends of upwardly projecting pieces 24: which arefastened to certain of the form units and project slightly beyond the same. It may be stated at this point that the space between the bottom of the keel and the form units is just equal to the thickness of the'ribs of the boat. Next, the ribs 25 (see Figs. 3 and 6), are bent around each of the transverse form units, each rib being formed from a'strip of wood, as is customary. Each rib is inserted between the keel and the transverse form, and after being bent about the form unit is secured at its ends by the clamps 13.- When the ends of the strips forming the ribs are secured by the clamps 13, these ribs lie upon and conform to the shape of the iron bands. 12, with Which the peripheries or edges of the transverse form units are shod. Then,- the upper sections 15 of the large rollers 15 are placed in position by being fastened by securing means 26 to the upper ends of the lower sections 15*, so as to complete the an-f nulus which envelops or completely surrounds the boat form. Then, the shell or body of the boat is constructed on the ribs,

from the so-called planking 27 which is nailed on to the ribs 25. As each strip forming the shell is nailed to the ribs, the ends of the nails are clenched by the bands of iron at the edges ofthe transverse form units. As the construction of the shell progresses with the workmen standing in erect position, or in a position most suitable and convenient for him, he will gradually turn the entire form and boat being constructed thereon so as to keep the working. point always at substantially the same height from the floor. He is thus enabled to work-"rapidly and continuously, as he is always standing in a natural position while doing the work. After the shell is completed, the upper portions 15 of the surrounding rollers are removed, and then the boat can be lifted from the form after the'clamps 21 are removed, and after the lower ends of theribs are sawed off just above the clamps 13. It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 6 that the structed on the form will be of precisely the same shape and size.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A boat form comprising one or more longitudinal members, a plurality of transverse form units spaced at regular intervals and corresponding in number and spacing to the ribs adapted to be provided on the interior of a boat, and clamping means for temporarily securing the boat ribs on to the ends of said form units.

2. A boat form comprising one or more longitudinal members, a plurality of transverse form units spaced at regular intervals and corresponding in number and spacingto the ribs adapted to be provided on the interior of a boat, means carried by the form units for temporarily securing the .boat ribs on to said form units, ahd means for rotatably supporting said form so that it may be revolved about an axis. 3

3.- A boat form, comprising one or more longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transverse form units, each substantially corresponding in shape to the shape of a particular part of the boat to be built on the form, each of'said form units having a band of iron extending about its edge or periphery and provided at its ends with rib clamps.

4. A boat form, comprising one or more longitudinally extending members, a plurality of transverse form units, each substantially corresponding in shape to the shape of a particular part of the boat to be built on the form, each of said form units having at its ends clamping means for temporarily securing theretoa boat rib.

5. A boat form composed of one or more longitudinal members, a plurality of transverse form units secured thereto and corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of the ribs of the boat to be built, each of said units having means for clamping a boat rib thereto and certain of said'units having clamping means for securing in position on the form a boat keel.

6. A boat form composed of one or more longitudinal members, a plurality of transverse form u its secured thereto and corresponding in umber and spacing to the number and spacing of the ribsof the boat to be built, each of said units having means for clamping a boat rib thereto, and certain of saidunits having clamping means for securing in position, on the form a boat keel,

and means for revolubly supporting the boat form so that it may be rocked about an axis.

7. A boat form composed of one or more longitudinally extending timbers, a plurality of transverse form units secured thereto, and each substantially correspondingin shape to the transverse shape of a particular part of the boat, certain of said ribs having parts projecting upwardly beyond the transverse form units, and means "for securing the keel of the boat to said upwardly projecting parts,.so that there will be a space for the insertion of ribs between the keel and the form units.

8. A boat form composed of one or more longitudinally extending timbers and a plurality of transverse form units, each conforming substantially to the transverse shape of a particular part of the boat, and

wheels or rollers secured to and extending about the form, each wheel or roller composed of'a section fixed to theform and a section removably attached to the fixed section. a

9. A method of building a boat, which comprises fastening the keel of the boat to a form, inserting the ribs of the boat between the keel and the form, bendingthe ribs to conform to the contour of the form and clamping them to the latter, and thence nailing the planking on to the ribs so as to form the body or shell of the boat.

In'v testimony whereof, Ihereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN D. SCHMITT. Witnesses:

A. F. Kwis, C. V. SOHURGER. 

